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Music Monday

04.11.2016 By: Eliza, MiniBury Founder

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The Week of the Young Child™ starts today with Music Monday! The #WOTYC is an annual celebration hosted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers and families. Today, we’re sharing musical reflections from Sadie Brightman, director of the Middlebury Community Music Center, mother of two young girls, and a life-long piano player and teacher.

Every child is born with musical aptitude – and a natural inclination toward music.

Just this weekend, my household hosted our first ever sleepover birthday party. Five girls celebrating our oldest turning 8 (plus little sister). It was an extremely fun night of celebration, followed by lots of IMG_9131grown-up coffee pouring the next morning. As I spent time with the girls, it struck me that at one point or another, each of them found their way to the piano in the corner of our living room to check it out. Either a quick pass by run of notes plunked out, or a focused 30 seconds on the latest piece in progress. The lid is always open in our house. I couldn’t help myself from casually showing up right next to them at the piano whenever I heard a few notes flying through the air, eager to stretch their time at the instrument, or just to let them know, “I hear you.” Those 88 keys are still, and will always be, my favorite playground. This started when I was a very young kid. I remember discovering the power and vastness of the piano, and I get transported back to that moment whenever I see a kid get those big focused eyes, entranced by the giant instrument.  

After a lifetime of fascination with music, I am now the director of Middlebury Community Music Center (MCMC), mom of two young girls, and a piano teacher. I am passionate about the importance music education for young children, and hope to have reach as many families as mcmc logopossible with this message. Early musical learning has the power to propel us into a lifetime of music making, appreciating music and all art forms, enriching our lives and making us engaged citizens.IMG_0049

Every child is born with musical aptitude – and a natural inclination toward music. Parent and caregivers’ voices are the most important sounds, the first connection babies have to their new world. This bond through sound is the beginning of lyricism and song (even from adults who think they can’t sing!). The common myth that some kids are just born with musical gifts misses the fact that everyone has a chance to become musically literate, and to reap the benefits that musical training has to offer. Many children have minimal exposure to music during the critical early years that are prime for learning.

Singing and moving to music from a very young age awakens two essential pillars of musical learning: pitch and rhythm. These are skills that need practice and reinforcement to become stable “truths” for a young musician. This process of learning shapes our thinking as we grow, and transfers to many other areas of our lives.

Music reflects our emotions, and gives us a medium for exploring them in a productive and creative way.

A recent report just released from the National Endowment for the Arts shows how critical early arts education is to children’s social-emotional development. Music reflects our emotions, and gives us a medium for exploring them in a productive and creative way. This exploration has lasting benefits in many areas of learning. For young children, a strong social-emotional foundation leads to greater success in academics, and instills resourceful problem solving, compassionate listening, and stick-to-itiveness, among many other important attributes.

It is our mission at MCMC to provide enriching programming in music for all the ages in a supportive, community environment. I am honored to work with so many inspiring music instructors at MCMC who pass on their love of music every day to their students.IMG_1616-3

We at MCMC are glad to collaborate with the Let’s Grow Kids organization to promote the importance of these early childhood experiences, especially during this national Week of the Young Child, and especially on Music Monday! You can learn more about these initiatives at www.letsgrowkids.org, and at www.mcmcvt.org.

As our delightful 8 year old house guests reminded me this weekend, music is captivating to all of us! Let’s all remember this and prioritize musical learning over time for our kids. This can begin on day one, and carry through all of childhood and beyond.

Musically Yours,
Sadie Brightman

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Eliza, MiniBury Founder

Hello, I’m Eliza. I founded MiniBury in 2012 because I had a hunch that I wasn't the only parent in Addison County missing fun family friendly events. I love the challenge of finding and sharing information about our community to other parents.

Upcoming Events

May
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Thu
10:30 am Bixby Storytime @ Bixby Memorial Library
Bixby Storytime @ Bixby Memorial Library
May 19 @ 10:30 am
Join the Children’s Librarian in the Bixby Library’s Community Room for stories, songs, and rhymes. This program is designed for preschool-aged children and their caregivers. Kids of all ages are welcome!
10:30 am Bristol Storytime @ Lawrence Memorial Library
Bristol Storytime @ Lawrence Memorial Library
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Find Marita, her ukulele and friends downstairs at the library for stories, songs, and activities.
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Tot Time Open Gym @ Middlebury Rec Center
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12:00 pm New Moms Connection Group @ Zoom
New Moms Connection Group @ Zoom
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Chat with other local moms who are in their first year postpartum. This weekly Zoom group is hosted by Alison Underwood, counselor and social worker at Porter Women’s Health. Call or email her for consent [...]
3:00 pm Midd Summer Market
Midd Summer Market
May 19 @ 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Come downtown for live music, artisans, makers, growers, prepared foods and more.
6:30 pm Sunset Picnic, Live Music & Games @ Otter Creek Gorge
Sunset Picnic, Live Music & Games @ Otter Creek Gorge
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Join MALT at Otter Creek Gorge for a gorgeous evening (fingers crossed!), featuring musician Nate Gusakov. Nate started picking clawhammer-style banjo when he was 20 years old, and he still does so with glee whenever [...]
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8:30 am Mary Hogan Playgroup @ Mary Hogan Pre-K Classroom
Mary Hogan Playgroup @ Mary Hogan Pre-K Classroom
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Playgroup is open for all children ages birth-5 years of age and their families on Fridays (following the ACSD school calendar). A light snack will be provided. Please call or email Deb for more information.   
10:30 am Lincoln Storytime @ Lincoln Library
Lincoln Storytime @ Lincoln Library
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Homeschoolers Open Gym @ Middlebury Rec Center
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3:30 pm Create Your Own Book Trailer @ Ilsley Library
Create Your Own Book Trailer @ Ilsley Library
May 20 @ 3:30 pm
What are book trailers? Book trailers are similar to movie trailers, but they promote books instead of films. Teens are invited to come film their own book trailer with Kurt Broderson from MCTV and Kathryn! [...]
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